Originally developed by Hawaiian islanders, before the 15th century, "he'e nalu" (wave-sliding) spread in
the early 20th century to the USA and Australia, where heavy timber "malibu" boards were ridden directly towards
beaches. However, the sport exploded in popularity
in the 1950s and 1960s, when cheaper, more
maneuverable, and lighter boards made of fiberglass
and foam became available and the teenaged baby
boomers headed to the beach in droves to enjoy the
maneuverability and stunts made possible by the
new boards. The sport has spread to most places
where waves appear, including France, Brazil,
South Africa, and many island states. Surfing
equipment includes board leashes, used to keep a
surfer's board from washing to shore after a 'wipeout',
wax and/or traction pads, used to keep a surfers feet
from slipping of the deck of the board, interchangeable
"skegs," and board shorts.
Body Boarding
The origin of bodyboarding dates back to 15th century Polynesians
who were believed to have used short, flat pieces of wood to ride
waves. Bodyboarding is similar to surfing, but uses a short buoyant,
flexible foam board about 40 inches long and 22 inches wide. The
rider lies prone with the board under his stomach and with fins and
some kind of a wave, propels through the water.
Spear Fishing
Spearfishing is a form of fishing that has been popular throughout the world for centuries. Early civilizations are
familiar with the custom of spearing fish out of rivers and streams using sharpened sticks as a means of catching
food. Spearfishing today uses more modern and effective elastic- or pneumatic-powered spearguns and slings
to strike the hunted fish. Spearfishing may be done using free-diving, snorkeling, or scuba diving techniques.
However, spearfishing while using SCUBA or other artificial breathing apparatus is frowned upon in some locations
and is illegal in many others.
Skim Boarding
It is thought that the islanders of the Pacific may have been the first to
slide across the beach on a plank of wood. Skimboarding arrived in
California sometime in the early 1900s. Victoria Skimboards introduced
foam and fibreglass boards to the sport. These boards were much easier
to ride out to the wave, turn, and ride back in. The old wood boards had a
tendency to sink in the surf and get stuck underwater for minutes at a
time. The new boards were much lighter, quick to turn, and had the
buoyancy needed to actually ride the wave.
All these things make me happy because they give me something fun to do. I love the
ocean so the more time I spend in it the better. My whole life outside of school is pretty
much based around the beach. On the weekends I go surfing and bodyboarding, after
I'm tired of surfing and bodyboarding I come in and skim board, and in the summer I go
to the north shore and go spear fishing. When I'm watching TV I'm usally watching
something that has to do with surfing, bodyboarding, or spear fishing. I live right by the
ocean so when I wake up in the mornings I can go out to my lanai and look out at the
Beach Activities
Surfing
Originally developed by Hawaiian islanders, before the 15th century, "he'e nalu" (wave-sliding) spread inthe early 20th century to the USA and Australia, where heavy timber "malibu" boards were ridden directly towards
beaches. However, the sport exploded in popularity
in the 1950s and 1960s, when cheaper, more
maneuverable, and lighter boards made of fiberglass
and foam became available and the teenaged baby
boomers headed to the beach in droves to enjoy the
maneuverability and stunts made possible by the
new boards. The sport has spread to most places
where waves appear, including France, Brazil,
South Africa, and many island states. Surfing
equipment includes board leashes, used to keep a
surfer's board from washing to shore after a 'wipeout',
wax and/or traction pads, used to keep a surfers feet
from slipping of the deck of the board, interchangeable
"skegs," and board shorts.
Body Boarding
who were believed to have used short, flat pieces of wood to ride
waves. Bodyboarding is similar to surfing, but uses a short buoyant,
flexible foam board about 40 inches long and 22 inches wide. The
rider lies prone with the board under his stomach and with fins and
some kind of a wave, propels through the water.
Spear Fishing
Spearfishing is a form of fishing that has been popular throughout the world for centuries. Early civilizations arefamiliar with the custom of spearing fish out of rivers and streams using sharpened sticks as a means of catching
food. Spearfishing today uses more modern and effective elastic- or pneumatic-powered spearguns and slings
to strike the hunted fish. Spearfishing may be done using free-diving, snorkeling, or scuba diving techniques.
However, spearfishing while using SCUBA or other artificial breathing apparatus is frowned upon in some locations
and is illegal in many others.
Skim Boarding
slide across the beach on a plank of wood. Skimboarding arrived in
California sometime in the early 1900s. Victoria Skimboards introduced
foam and fibreglass boards to the sport. These boards were much easier
to ride out to the wave, turn, and ride back in. The old wood boards had a
tendency to sink in the surf and get stuck underwater for minutes at a
time. The new boards were much lighter, quick to turn, and had the
buoyancy needed to actually ride the wave.
All these things make me happy because they give me something fun to do. I love the
ocean so the more time I spend in it the better. My whole life outside of school is pretty
much based around the beach. On the weekends I go surfing and bodyboarding, after
I'm tired of surfing and bodyboarding I come in and skim board, and in the summer I go
to the north shore and go spear fishing. When I'm watching TV I'm usally watching
something that has to do with surfing, bodyboarding, or spear fishing. I live right by the
ocean so when I wake up in the mornings I can go out to my lanai and look out at the
waves.
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